Then Thiruperai, Nava tirupathy, Thirunelveli.

1. Then Thiruperai:
   
   
   
   One of 108 Divyadesam and one of NavaTirupathy.
   
   The place is important for Sukra graham.
   The place is about 7 kms distance to Azwar Thiru Nagari on River Thamirabarani.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   There is an outer mandapam with sculpture to pillars. We cross Dwajasthambam and have the darshan of Garudazwar in a small sanctum, which is a little away to the side, facing main deity in sanctum.
   
   
   Main Deity “Magra nedung kuzhai nadhar”, in veer asanam posture.(sitting with his left leg folded). “Kuzai kadha valli Thayar” and “Thiruperai Nachiar” are seen in different separate sanctums. We see Brugu Muni and Markendayer to either side in front of main deity inside the sanctum.
   
   
   
   Urchavar here is known as “Nigaril mugil vannan” with “Sridevi and Bhoodevi”. Teertham is Sukra pushkarani.
   
   
   Purana: Once when Hiranyakshiban kidnapped Bhoodevi and Perumal rescued her from the asura, after a fight with him Vishnu blessed her and placed her on his lap. Bhoomadevi felt happy and was in trance.
   
   
   Meantime Sridevi was looking out for Lord Vishnu, and she found Bhoodevi and Vishnu together and felt jealousy. She asked “Doorvasa Muni” to help her in getting back Lord Vishnu to her place.
   
   
   
   Doorvasar came to the place where Lord Vishnu was and since Bhoodevi was in trance and did not respect Muni. Bhoodevi was cursed by muni, and she asked for a way to get rid of it to him.
   
   
   
   She was asked to penance here in "Then Thiruperai" reciting “Narayana Manthram”. After long years of penance one day she saw huge Kundalam in the shape of a fish. As she offers everything to Lord Vishnu, she offered the Kundalam also to him which he wore and stayed back in the place and was known as “Nedung kuzhai nadhan”. He gave Lakshmi
   
   
   
   Devi’s features to her, and hence the place is known as Thiruperai.
   Once Samudra rajan, did not respect Varunan, so, he lost his kingdom and his weapon Pasam. Asuras came to fight with Varunan; he was unable to fight against them.
   
   
   
   Deva guru asked him to penance at "Then Thiruperai", and get back his weapon and kingdom which he lost. Varuna did as he was told. He was blessed by Lord, who poured water in his hand which turned out to be Pasam, (weapon) which was given to Varunan.
   
   
   He is known as “Mugil vannan” from then on.